Air separator



R. M. GAY.

AIR SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-7. I920.

1 ,4 1 4,636.. Patented May 2, 1922.

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I 10 Inventor fiafie/"fM 2 R. M. GAY.

AIR- SEPARATOR..

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1920.

Patented May 2, 1922.

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Inventor" 'FubePtJI L Gar/ t Patented May 2, 1922;

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' R. M. GAY.

AIRSEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1920.

Inventor film/"nay m M m m RUIEERT M. GAY, OF HANOVER TOWNSHIP, MGRRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, .Q\SSIGNOR T0 EMERICK MILL 00., 0F EASTON, EENNSYLVANIA, A CORPGRATION 0F PENN- SYLVANIA Application filed February 7, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, RUBERT M. GAY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hanover Township, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to improvements in air separators of the type disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,263,394, dated April 23,1918.

The object of the present invention is toimprove this type of separator so that it will more etlectually separate the fine from the coarse particles of material introduced thereto. To this end the invention resides: first, in 'a novel bafiie device for controlling the velocity of the air current as it passes between the upper and lower inner receptacles of the separatorand for preventing fine particles of the separated material -from reentering the upper receptacle after it has passed therefrom; second, in novel battle devices for controlling the path of the air current inwardly of the space between the said receptacles and beneath the material distributing plate and for controlling the path of the material falling from the distributing plate relatively to the path of the air current; and third, in a novel damper 'device in close proximity to the fan chamber for controlling the velocity of the air pass ing .thereth-rough. Accordingly, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention,

I Figure 1 isa vertical section through a separator embodying the invention.

Figure'2 is a horizontal section thereof, on'line.22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section through adjacent members of one of the baffle devices.

Figure 4 is a view in Ian and partly in section, on line 4-4 Of Fig. 1. i i

Figure 5 is an enlarged; vertical section through the bafile device.

Referring to the drawings, 3 designates an outer casing and 5 and 6 upper and lower are snraaaron.

Patented May 2, 1922..

Serial No. 356,989.

receptacles, respectively, arranged within the casing. The casing 3 comprises acylindrical body portion 7, a horizontal top wall 8 and a tapered or funnel shaped bottom wall 9 having an opening 10 therein for the discharge of the fines or fine particles of. the separated material.

The upper receptacle 5 is spaced from the casing 3 and is supported by bolts 11 depending from the top wall 8 of the casing 3; and the receptacle 5 has an open top and an open bottom, is annular in form and is shaped as shown in the drawings, its upper end being contracted by being tapered upwardly and inwardly, and its lower end being contracted by being tapered downwardly and inwardly.

The lower receptacle 6 is located below the upper receptacle 5 and it is spaced therefrom and has an open upper end, the diameter of which is equal to or greater than the diameter of the opening in the bottom of the upper receptacle 5, so that material falling from the upper receptacle will enter the lower receptacle. The receptacle 6 is made tapering or funnel shaped and its lower end terminates in a downwardly'and outwardly inclined pipe 12 which extends through the wall of the casing 3 for the discharge of the tailings or large particles of the separated material. a

Extendingcentrally through the top wall 8 of the casing 33 is a feed pipe 13 through which the material to be separated is fed to the machine. The pipe 13 extends down into the upper receptacle 5 through a hollow vertical shaft 14 which is mounted to turn in asuitable bearing 15 on the top wall 8, the pipe 13 being supportedby a bracket 16 on the top wall 8. The shaft 1 1 is provided with a bevel gear wheel 17 in mesh with a similar wheel 18' on a horizontal shaft-'19 which turns in bearings 20 on the top wall 7 7 be rotated. The bottom of the shaft 14 carof the separator, partly ries two round, horizontally-arranged discs or plates 22 and 23 which are spaced from each other, the upper plate'22 being secured to the flange of a collar 24.- carried by the shaft 14 and the lower plate 23 being carried opening therein' through which the lower end of the feed pipe 13 extends to discharge material upon the central portion of the lower or distributing plate 23 which, durlng the rotation of the shaft 14 discharges the material from the edge thereof by centrifugal action and distributes the material around the receptacle 5 so that the material will fall from the edge of the plate 23 in an annular stream or shower.

The space between the top wall of the upper receptacle 5 and the top wall 8 of the casing 3 forms a fan cl1amber w1th1n which is arranged a fan 25 comprislng a collar 26 secured to the hollow shaft 14, arms 27 extending outwardly from the collar 26, and blades 28 carried by the outer ends of the arms 27, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The fan blades 28' are disposed to cause air within the casing 3 to circulate outwardly from the fan chamber, down through the casing 3 exteriorly of the upper receptacle 5, inwardly through the space between I the receptacles 5 and ,6 and up through the in v IO( lS 30 and their plates 29ers in the inner-- upper receptacle 5 to the fanchamber.

Arranged in close proximity to the fan chamber is an adjustable damper which may be set to increase or decrease the velocity of the air current as it passes through the chamber. This damper is preferably arranged on the top wall ofrthe upper receptacle 5 to vary the size of the opening which afl'ords communication between the fan chamber and the contracted upper end of the upper receptacle. The damper comprises a circular series of plates 29 secured to the inner ends of radially extending rods 30 which penetrate the outer casing 3 and which are fitted to slide in suitable bearings 31 and 32 carried by the casing 3 and the top wall of the receptacle 5, respectively. The outer ends of the rods 30 are provided with handles by means of which they may be moved inwardly or outwardly to move the plates 29 toward or from'the center of .themachine. The damper plates 29 have outwardly diverging side edges arranged on lines which cause the side edges of adjacent plates to meet each other and close the openin the top of the receptacle 5 when all the most position. Therefore it will be understood that by adjusting the rods 30 and their plates 29 outwardly and inwardly the area of the opening which affords communication between the top of the receptacle 5 and the fan chamber maybe varied from the entire area of the opening in the top of the receptacle5 to the complete closing thereof.

Arranged inwardly of and opposite to the annular space between the bottom edge of the upper receptacle 5 and the top edge of the lower receptacle 6 is a baille 33, preferably annular in form, as shown, Which prevents the circulating air current from reaching the central portion of the space between the receptacles; and arranged within the central portion of the upper receptacle 5 beneath the distributing plate 23 is a baflie 34 which is, preferably, conicalin form and which, preferably, forms a continuation of the baflie 33. The bottom or lower edge of the conical baffle 34 is of greater diameter than the cylindrical baffle 33 so that any material to be separa ed which descends through the upper receptacle 5 and meets the inclined face of the baffle 34 will be directed downwardly and outwardly thereby and fall therefrom outwardly of the cylindrical baffle 33. The lower baffle 33 is supported by suitable spaced arms 35 which extend therefrom to the wall of the lower receptacle 6, and the upper bafile 34 is supported by and forms a continuation of the lower baffle 33.

Surrounding the annular space between the bottom edge of the'upper receptacle 5 annular set of vertically extending mem-- here 37 and 38, respectively. The members 37 of the inner set are arranged in staggered relation to the members 38 of the outer set, and the members of both sets are supported at their upper ends by brackets 39 secured to the upper receptacle 5. The

lower ends'of the members 37 and 38 of the two sets are open and are held in place, properly spaced from each other, by annular bands 40 and 41 to which the members 37 and 38 are connected by plates 42 and 43, respectively, the members, bands and plates being riveted together, as shown. The

members 37 and 38 are made hollow and open slded, the outer sides 'of the inner members 37 being open throughout the length thereof, and the inner sides of the outer members 38 being open throughout the length thereof; and the open side of each member of each set faces and embraces the open sides of two members of the other set, as clearly shown in the drawings. Thus the members 37 and 38 provide a plurality of successive annular sets of openings 44, 45 and 46, and interposed annular sets of cham-'- bers 47and 48 through which the current of air passes just before it enters the space or opening between the receptacles 5 and 6, the air passing first through the openings 44 to the chambers 47, then from the chambers 47 through the openings 45 to the chambers 48, and then from the chambers 48 through the openings 46 and into the space between the receptacles 5 and 6. The of openings, 44, 45 and 46 progressively increase in area, because the area of the comsuccessive sets of each set of chambers 47 and 48 is greater thanthe area of each set of the said openings with which it communicates,-for purposes hereinafter explained.

Surrounding the space between the re ceptacles 5 and 6 inwardly of the baflie device 36 is a vertically-movable annular damper 50 which may be raised and lowered to control the volume and velocity of air passing into said space; and surrounding baflie device 36 is a vertically-movable annular damper 51 which may beraised and lowered to control the volume and velocity of air passing through the baflle device 36.

The dampers 50 and 51 are supported by suitable cables 52 and 53 having their lower ends connected to brackets on the dampers 50" and 51, respectively, and extending upwardly therefrom over and under guiding pulleys 54 mounted. on brackets on the outer casing 3 and-upper receptacle 5, as shown. The upper ends of the cables 52 and 53 are connnected to the lower ends of vertically-movable bars 55 and 56, respectively, which extend through openings in the top wall S of the casing 3 and have handles on the upper ends thereof by means of which the bars and therewith the cables 52 and 53 and dampers 50 and 51, respectively, may be raised and lowered independently of each other. The bars. 55 and 56 are provided with perforations for the reception of pins to engage the top wall 8 and support the bars 55 and 56 and therewith their'dampers 50 and 51 in different positions of vertical adjustment.

The operation of the machine is as follows Power is applied to the pulley .21 to rotate the shaft 19 and therewith the fan 25 and distributingplate 23. This causes air to circulate outwardly through the fan chamber, down through the casing 3 exteriorly of the upper receptacle 5, inwardly through the space between the receptacles 5 and 6 and up through the upper receptacle 5 to the fan chamber. The material to be separated is fed into the feed pipe 13 in which it descends and falls upon the. distributing plate 23 and passes. outwardly between the plates 22-and 23 by centrifugal force and is thereby'discharged from the edge of the distributing plate 23 and into the expanded portion of. the upper receptacle 5. As the material is discharged from the plate 23, and as it descends therefrom it encounters the upwardly moving air cur:- rent which carries with it the fine or light particles of the material while the tailings' or particles which are too heavy to be carried by the air current descend through the receptacles 5 and 6 by gravity and pass from the-machine through the discharge pipe 12.

The fine particles or fines are carried upwardly by the air current through the receptacle 5 and outwardly through the fan chamber and descend through the casing 3 exteriorly of the receptacles 5 and 6 to the discharge pipe 10 through which they are discharged from the machine.

The air current, during the circulation thereof, changes its velocity at a number of places in its path of travel. Its velocity is increased as it passes through the fan chamber or from the interior of the receptacle 5 to the exterior thereof and it slows down in passing from the fan chamber to the bafiie device 36 controlling its entrance to the space between the receptacles 5 and 6,

permitting the fines to descend to'the dis-v charge pipe 10. As the air current passes the bafile device 36, its velocity is increased as it passes through the openings 44, decreased as it passes through the chambers 47, again increased as it passes through the openings 45, again decreased as it passes through the chambers 48, and again increased as it passes through the final openings 46 of the battle device. After the air current leaves the battle device 36, the velocity thereof is decreased as it enters the upper receptacle 5 below the distributing plate 23, increased as it passes between, the edge of the plate 22 and the wall ofthe receptacle 5, decreased as it enters the upper portion of the receptacle 5 above the plate 22, and increased as it leaves the receptacle 5 and passes through the fan chamber, completing its circuit. The relative proportions of the several parts of the machine are, such as to effect the increases and decreases in the velocity of the air current as described.

The upper receptacle acts as an expansion chamber for .the air current and has two zones of operation between which the velocity ofthe air is increased. That portion ticles earned by the air current into the upper zone or compartment. By the adjust- 'ment of the damper plates 29 the velocity of the air current passing through the upper zone or compartment may be regulated and the separation of the material therein controlled to a nicety; and by adjusting the damper 50 the. velocity of the air current passing through the lower zone or compartment maybe regulated and the separation of the material therein controlled.

' The purpose of the bafiie device 36 is to "prevent the air current from carrying any fthe fines with it as it enters the space between the receptacles 5 and 6 and this is accomplished by the combination and arrangement of the openings 44, 45 and 46 and chambers 47 and 48. It is an established -fact that if a current of air carrying material in suspension, has its direction changed, or its area increased, the centrifugal action has a tendency to throw the material to the outside. It will be understood, therefore, that the described openings and chambers of the battle device 36 divides and causes rapid changes of direction of the air current, and that the area is increased within the chambers 47 from the openings 44, and within the chambers 48 from the openings 45, causing fines which may escape through openings 44 to the chambers 47 or through the openings 45 from the chambers 47 to the chambers 48, to collect within the said chambers 47 and 48 and descend by gravity therein to a position below the baflle device 36 from which they descend to the discharge pipe 10. The sets of openings 44, 45 and 46 progressively increasing in area,

gradually slow down the velocity of the air current passing through the bafile device 36 and ensures thereby the elimination or substantial elimination of the fines by the baffle device 36. By adjusting the damper 51 the velocity of the air entering the baffle device 36 may be regulated.

The baffles 33 and 34 are employed to prevent the air current from reaching the central portion of the space between the receptacles 5 and 6, and the central part of the lower portion of the upper receptacle 5 and thereby prevent the liberal expansion or undue slowing down of the air current in these localities with the consequent loss of fines in the tailings. In the absence of these baflles 33 and 34, the air entering the space between the receptacles 5 and 6 at high velocity and being drawn upwardly around the edge of the plate 22 causes what might be termed slu gish or dead airspaces in the regions occupied by the bafiles 33 and 34 where the air is expanded to such an extent that fines which are carried into these regions by the air current are, by the slowing down of the current, allowed to fall into the receptacle 6 and are carried out with the tailings. By making the baflle 34 conical in form, any fines which fall upon it will be directed downwardly thereby and discharged from its lower edge into the upwardly moving air which has a higher -velocity outwardly of the lower edge of 'the baffle 34 than above the body thereof,

causing the fines to be carried upwardly by the air current. The purpose of having the discharging edge of the baflle 34 of greater diameter than the diameter of the baffle 33 is to cause the material being separated to descend from the bafile 34 in s aced relation to the baffle 33 and the bafile evice 36, so

relation thereto, said receptacle having an air outlet opening in the top wall thereof and having an air inlet opening in the lower portion thereof, a circular series of damper plates having outwardly diverging side edges and adjustable radially to vary the size of the outlet opening, means operative to cause air to circulate up through the receptacle and down through the casing exteriorly of the receptacle, and means to feed material to the receptacle.

2. In an air separator, the combination of an outer casing, a vertically extending receptacle supported within the casing in spaced relation thereto, said receptacle having an air outlet opening in the top wall thereof and having an air inlet opening in the lower portion thereof, a circular series of damper plates having-outwardly diverging side edges and adjustable radially to vary the size of the outlet opening, radiallyextending rods connected to the damper plates and penetrating the outer casing and operative to adjust the damper plates, means operative to cause air to circulate up through the receptacle and downthrough the casing exteriorly of the receptacle, and means to feed material to the receptacle.

3. In an air separator, the combination 105 of an outer casing enclosing a chamber, upper and lower receptacles supported "within the casing in spaced relation to each other and to the casing, means to cause air to circulate down through the outer casing, through the space between the receptacles and up through the upperreceptacle, a baflle located inwardly of and opposite to the space between the receptacles, and means for feeding material to the upper receptacle and causing said material to fall between the space between the receptacles and the bafile wall.

4. In an air separator, the combination of an outer casing enclosing a chamber, upper and lower receptacles supported within the casing in spaced relation to each other and to the casing, means to cause air to circulate down through theouter casing, through the space between the receptacles and up through the upper receptacle, a tapering battle located centrally within the lower portion'of the upper receptacle, a baflle located inwardly of and opposite to the space between the receptacles, and means for feeding material to the upper receptacle Leiaeec above the baflles and causing said material to fall between the space between the receptacles and the last named bafie.

5. In an.- air separator, the combination of an outer casing enclosing a chamber, upper and lower receptacles supported within the casing in spaced relation to each other and to the casing, means to cause air to circulate down through the outer casing, through the space between the receptacles and up through the upper receptacle, a cone shaped baffle located centrally within the lower portion of the upper receptacle, and means for feeding material to the upper receptacle above said baffle so that said material will fall to the lower receptacle inwardly of the space between the receptacles.

6. In an air separator, the combination of an outer casingenclosing a chamber, upper and lower receptacles supported within the casing in spaced relation to each other and to the casing, means to cause air to circulate down through the outer casing, through the space between the receptacles and up through the upper receptacle, a cone shaped baffle located centrally within the lowerportion of the upper receptacle, a bafiielocated inwardly of and opposite to the space between the receptacles, and means for feeding material to the upper receptacle above the bailles so that said material will fall between the space between the receptacles and the last named bathe.

7. In an air separator, the combination of an outer casing enclosing a chamber,up-

per and lower receptacles supported within the casing in spaced relation to each other and. to the casing, means to cause air to circulate down through the outer casing, through the space between the receptacles and up through the upper receptacle, a

bafile located centrally within the lower portion of the upper receptacle, a baffle located opposite to the space between the receptacles and inwardly thereof and inwardly of the lower edge of the first named battle, and means for feeding material to the upper receptacle above the bafies so that said material will fall between the space between the receptacles and the last named battle.

8; In an air separator, the combination of an outer casing enclosing a chamber, upper and lower receptacles supported within the casing in spaced relation to each other and to the casing, means to cause air to cir culate down through the outer casing, through the space between the receptacles and up through the upper receptacle, a cone shaped bafile located centrally within the lower portion of the upper receptacle, a bafie located opposite to the space between the receptacles and inwardly thereof and inwardly of the lower edge of the first named baffle, and means. for feeding material to the upper receptacle above the battles so that said material will fall between the 'spacecbetween the receptacles and the last named baffle.

9. In an air separator, the combinationof a. casing, a receptacle having an inlet opening and an outlet opening communicating with the casing, means to cause air to circulate through said openings and through said to circulate through said openings and through said casing and. said receptacle, means to feed material to the receptacle, and a bame device interrupting the air current entering said inlet opening and having two spaced sets of openings and chambers between them through which the air passes, the area of the chambers being greater than the area of either set of openings and the area of the second set of openings being greater than the area of the first set of openings. 7

11. In an air separator, the combination of a casing, a receptacle having an inlet opening and an outlet opening communicatingwith the casing, means to cause air to circulate through said openings and through said casing and said receptacle, means to feed material to the receptacle, and a battle device interrupting the air current entering said inlet opening and having a plurality of successive sets of openings and interposed sets of chambers through which the air passes, the openings in said sets progressively increasing in area and the area of each set of chambers being greater than the area of the area. of each set of openings with which it communicates.

12. In an air separator, the combination. of a casing, a receptacle having an inlet opening and an outlet opening communicating with the casing, means to cause air to circulate throug'lr's'aid openings and through said casing and said receptacle, means to feed material to the receptacle, and a bafile device interrupting the air current entering said inlet opening and comprising two sets of hollow, open slded members, the members of one set being arranged in sta gered rela tion to the members of the ot er set, the open sides of each member of each set facing and embracing the open sides of two members of the other set, said device providing a plurality of successive sets of open ings through which the air passes, and the.

of hollow, open sided members, the members of one set being arranged in staggered relation to the members of the other set, the open sidesot' each member of each set facing and embracing the open sides of two members of the other set, said device providing a plurality of successive sets of openings and interposed sets of chambers throu h which the air passes, and the said sets 0 openings progressively increasing in area and the area of each set of chambers being greater than the area of the area of each set of openings with which it communicates. V

14. In an air separator, the combination of an outer casing enclosing a chamber, upper and lower receptacles supported within the casing in spaced relation to each other and to the casing, means to cause air to circulate down through the outer casing, through the space between the receptacles and up through the upper receptacle, means to feed material to the receptacle, a bafiie device interrupting the air current entering said space and comprising an annular set of hollow members extending across said space and havin their outer sidesopen, an annular vertica ly-adjustable damper be tween said space and said device, means operative to adjust said damper, an annular, vertically-adjustable "damper surrounding the first named damper outwardly of said iaiaeae device, and means operative to adjust the last named damper independently of the first named damper.

15. In an air separator, the combination of an outer casing enclosing a chamber, upper and lower receptaclessup'ported within the casing in spaced relation to each other and to the casing, means to cause air to circulate down through the outer casing, through the space between the receptacles and up through the upper receptacle, means to feed material to the receptacle, and a battle device interrupting the air current entering said space and comprising two annular sets of hollow, open sided members extending across said space, the members of one set being arranged in staggered relation to the members of the other set, and the open sides of each member of each set facing and embracing the open sides of two members of the other set.

16. In an air separator, the combination of an outer casing enclosing a chamber, upper and lower receptacles supported within the casin in spaced relation to each other and to t e casing, means to cause air to circulate down through the outer casing, through the space between the receptacles and up through the upper receptacle, means to feed material to the receptacle, a battle device interrupting the air current entering said space and comprising two annular sets of hollow, open sided members extending across said space, the members of one set bemg arranged in staggered relation to the members of the other set, and the open sides of each'member of each set facing and embracing the open sides of two members of the other set, an annular vertically-adjustable damper controlling the air current passing through said space, andmeans operative to adjust said dampen In testimony whereof I affix my signature hereto.

I RUBERT M. GAY. 

